40th RENT Conference
40th RENT Conference (Research in ENTrepreneurship and small business)
Antwerp (Belgium) on 18-20 November 2026 (at the Hilton hotel)
The main theme of the 2026 RENT conference is Entrepreneurship in and for Fast-Changing Worlds: Making the Future with Resilience, Impact, and Fairness
The RENT 2026 conference invites scholars in entrepreneurship research to explore the critical role of entrepreneurship in shaping and responding to the rapid transformations of our era. In a world characterized by climate change, technological disruption, social inequalities, and geopolitical uncertainties, entrepreneurship is not just a means of adaptation but a driver of these changes—intentionally or otherwise.
This year's theme highlights the dual responsibility of entrepreneurship: to navigate fast-changing worlds with resilience and foresight while contributing to the creation of fairer, more sustainable and hopeful futures. We seek to critically examine how entrepreneurial action can (re)produce these dynamic contexts, the ethical and societal implications of such actions, and how entrepreneurs can embrace their potential as agents of positive impact.
Conference Coordinator
Eddy Laveren, Em. Prof. of Financial Management and Entrepreneurship, Antwerp Centre for Entrepreneurship Research, University of Antwerp
CO-CHAIRS
Frank Janssen, Prof. of Entrepreneurship, Université Catholique de Louvain
Ine Paeleman, Prof. of Entrepreneurial Finance, Antwerp Centre for Entrepreneurship Research, University of Antwerp
Johanna Vanderstraeten, Prof. of Entrepreneurship, Antwerp Centre for Entrepreneurship Research, University of Antwerp
Julie Hermans, Prof. of Entrepreneurship, Université Catholique de Louvain
European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ECSB)
The European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship is a research-driven non-profit organisation. The main objective is to facilitate the creation and dissemination of new knowledge through research and the open exchange of ideas between academia, education, policy and practice. ECSB organises for its members high-quality conferences, such as the RENT conference in order to facilitate and enhance the exchange of knowledge within the ECSB membership. The network of ECSB´s members covers nearly the whole Europe geographically; it has some 400 members from over 35 countries.
RENT 2026 Conference
The RENT Conference is a unique opportunity for researchers of different backgrounds but with a common interest in research in entrepreneurship and small business, to present cutting edge research and exchange views. The conference provides ample opportunities for both formal and informal discussions of the work presented, as well as for discussions on the subject. The RENT conference is now firmly established as the premier entrepreneurship research conference in Europe and brings together this year more than 325 leading academics in this field who present and debate cutting edge research in a wide variety of entrepreneurship related topics (more than 250 papers divided over 21 tracks).
More information about RENT 2026 (registration deadlines, conference programme and location, ...) can be found on the following website:
RENT 2026 Conference Preliminary Programme
Wednesday 18 November 2026 (Aula Rector Dhanis, Kleine Kauwenberg 14)
19.15 - 20.30h: Academic session “40th Anniversary of RENT”
- Panel discussion “Looking back” moderated by Robert Blackburn
- Panel discussion “Looking forward” moderated by Steffen Korsgaard
20.30 - 22.00h: Welcome reception
Thursday 19 November 2026 (Hilton Hotel , Groenplaats, Antwerpen)
9.00 – 11.00h: Opening session in Belle Epoque room (3rd floor)
- Welcome words by Vice-Rector Research UA (Maarten Weyn)
- Welcome words by Vice-Dean UCLouvain (Julie Hermans)
- Welcome by ECSB president (Mirela Xheneti)
- Highlights of the RENT Conferences over the past 40 years (Eddy Laveren)
- 40 years of Entrepreneurship research: a bibliometric analysis (Hans Landström and Jonas Gabrielson)
- Guest speaker: HR in entrepreneurial firms navigating in fast-changing worlds (Mirjan Knockaert)
- Practical information about RENT2026 (Eddy Laveren)
11.30 – 1800h: Parallel sessions and SIG meetings
19.30 – 23.00h: Gala and award dinner in Art Nouveau Zaal van Horta (Hopland 2)
Vrijdag 20 November 2026 (Hilton Hotel , Groenplaats, Antwerpen)
9.00 – 11.00h: Parallel sessions
11.15 – 12.00h: Guest speaker: Mental Health of entrepreneurs (Olivier Torres)
12.00 – 13.00h: Annual General Meeting of ECSB
14.00 – 17.30h: Parallel sessions and SIG meetings